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Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in 10 Regional Capitals of Cameroon, October-December 2020
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  • Karampreet Sachathep,
  • Tiffany Harris,
  • Yen Duong,
  • Giles Reid,
  • Emily Kainne Dokubo,
  • Judith Shang,
  • Clement Ndongmo,
  • Ekali Gabriel ,
  • G Tharp,
  • Laura Dimite,
  • Gordon Okpu,
  • Francis Ogollah,
  • Dubliss Nguafack,
  • Martin Ntse,
  • Gili Hrusa,
  • Katherine Yuengling,
  • Megan Tebbenhoff,
  • Essomba René,
  • Ngo Sack Françoise,
  • Naah Tabala Felicity,
  • Marie Claire Okomo Assoumou,
  • Anne Bissek,
  • Adama N’Dir
Karampreet Sachathep
ICAP at Columbia University

Corresponding Author:ks3265@cumc.columbia.edu

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Tiffany Harris
ICAP at Columbia University
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Yen Duong
ICAP at Columbia University
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Giles Reid
ICAP at Columbia University
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Emily Kainne Dokubo
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Judith Shang
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Clement Ndongmo
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Ekali Gabriel
ICAP at Columbia University
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G Tharp
ICAP at Columbia University
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Laura Dimite
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Gordon Okpu
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Francis Ogollah
ICAP at Columbia University
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Dubliss Nguafack
ICAP at Columbia University
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Martin Ntse
ICAP at Columbia University
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Gili Hrusa
ICAP at Columbia University
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Katherine Yuengling
ICAP at Columbia University
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Megan Tebbenhoff
ICAP at Columbia University
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Essomba René
Ministry of Health, Republic of Cameroon
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Ngo Sack Françoise
Ministry of Health, Cameroon
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Naah Tabala Felicity
Ministry of Health, Cameroon
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Marie Claire Okomo Assoumou
Ministry of Health, Cameroon
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Anne Bissek
Cameron University
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Adama N’Dir
CDC Cameroon
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Abstract

Cameroon was among the most affected African countries during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic; however, the true prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 remains unknown. From October-December 2020 we conducted a cross-sectional, age-stratified SARS-CoV-2 seroepidemiological survey at 30 purposively selected community-based sites across Cameroon’s 10 regional capitals, sampling 10,000 individuals aged 5 years or older. We employed a parallel SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing algorithm (WANTAI ELISA and Abbot Architect) to improve both the positive predictive value and negative predictive value of seroprevalence. The overall weighted and adjusted seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies across the 10 urban capitals of Cameroon was 10.5% (95% CI: 9.1%-12.0%) among participants aged ≥5 years. Of the 9332 participants, 730 males (13.1%, 95% CI: 11.5%-14.9%) had SARS-CoV-2 antibodies compared to 293 females (8.0%, 95% CI: 6.8%—9.3%). Among those who reported a comorbidity at the time of testing, 15.8% (95% CI: 12.8%-19.4%) were seropositive. We estimated that over 2 million SARS-CoV-2 infections occurred in the 10 regional capitals of Cameroon between October and December 2020, compared to 21,160 cases officially reported at that time translating to one laboratory-confirmed case was reported for every 110 SARS-CoV-2 infections across the 10 urban capitals. This study’s findings point to extensive and under-reported circulation of SARS-CoV-2 in Cameroon– an almost 100-fold more cases compared to the number of cases reported to the World Health Organization. This finding highlights the importance of conducting serosurveys, especially in settings where access to testing may be limited and to repeat such surveys as part of pandemic tracking.
19 Apr 2023Submitted to Influenza and other respiratory viruses
04 May 2023Submission Checks Completed
04 May 2023Assigned to Editor
05 May 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
14 Aug 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
14 Aug 2023Editorial Decision: Revise Major
20 Oct 20231st Revision Received
24 Oct 2023Submission Checks Completed
24 Oct 2023Assigned to Editor
02 Nov 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
05 Feb 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
05 Feb 2024Editorial Decision: Accept